Agency urging area businesses to develop disaster plans

CHARLES TOWN – Businesses in the Eastern Panhandle were left in the dark last June when the derecho ripped through the area. Although the high winds and heavy rains caused much damage, the source of most problems was the lack of power.

Barbara Miller, director of Jefferson County Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said what hit home during last summer’s storm was that many local businesses were not prepared for the situation.

While some have emergency operations plans in place, what they lack is a continuity plan.

A very simple definition of a continuity plan is a plan to keep doing the things your business absolutely has to do to survive for an outlined period of time – not forever, but enough to survive a natural or man-made disaster, said David Skeen, West Virginia continuity of operations and continuity of government coordinator.

“It’s what you plan when you’re the victim,” Skeen said.

“Anything can and probably will happen here,” Miller said. “Man-made disasters, oil spills, even terrorism. The things you don’t think about here in Jefferson County.”

Miller went on to say that statistics show 43 percent of businesses which shut down during an emergency or disaster never reopen. Of the businesses that stay open during a disaster, 29 percent of those close within two years due to losses from the event.

At the top of the list of disasters in Jefferson County remains fire. Miller said because of the historic components of the county, many houses and businesses have old electrical wiring, which can lead to problems. The county also sees brush fires, tornadoes and severe thunderstorms, among many other elements.

Skeen encouraged every business owner to have a plan for how their business will operate during any sort of disaster. He said even if it is not required by company policy, it is still good business practice – banks, for example, are required to have such plans in place.

“Decide who you need with you to write your plan,” Skeen said, adding this should include maintenance employees and secretaries and have them help to develop what is vital for the company to operate during an emergency.

An employer must also determine the essential personnel and backup personnel to handle emergency responsibilities. Ensuring employees have an emergency plan at their home is important, too, so those vital employees can still come into work.

Miller added it is important for employers to get to know outside suppliers and know where your necessary materials are coming from before the disaster hits.

“Things like gasoline – you might go to Sheetz, but where does Sheetz get it from? And payroll; it’s so important that you can pay your bills and employees even during a disaster,” Miller said.

While Skeen was clear there is no one-size-fits-all solution to creating a continuity plan for businesses, some of the important pieces to put together when crafting the document include: identifying an alternate location if your primary facility is unavailable; identifying critical equipment; identifying contingency options for equipment and supplies; identifying vital records; identifying and documenting external contacts; and including a “how-to section.”

In reference to last summer’s derecho and Superstorm Sandy that came later, Miller said it is time for businesses to begin working on these plans.